What you've just read is the traditional, widely accepted explanation of static electricity—and you'll still find it described that way in most school books.

But in 2011, scientists reported some important new discoveries that seemed to suggest much more was going on. Instead of being purely a matter of physics, and a simple transfer of charged electrons from one material to another, it seemed static electricity could also be caused by chemistry (movement of ions and other essentially chemical processes). And it could also happen through a swapping of small amounts of actual material (a bit of balloon shifting to your pullover or vice versa). Where we used to think of static as a simple "pile" of negative or positive charge (electrons or a lack of them), on closer inspection, it now appears to be a "mosaic" of both positive and negative charges that add up to an overall charge (positive or negative). This research is very new, and still evolving, but it seems clear that our traditional explanation of static electricity is an oversimplified version of what's really happening, even if we've faithfully believed it for over 2000 years!

I'm no science buff, but this is how I remember it from 1st-year high school...

Atoms consist of a nucleus and, depending on the element, varying numbers of protons and electrons. The protons and neutrons contain small electrical charges which repel each other. By convention (it's arbitrary) the protons are said to have a positive charge while the electrons are said to be negatively charged. Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom and depending on the element may be very stable, sticky, reluctant to leave the nucleus (the material is a good insulator), or flighty and unstable (the material is a good conductor).

A current of electricity is a steady flow of electrons. An electron, which carries a negative charge is attracted to a positive charge - ie, a neighbouring atom which lacks a negative charge because it has lost one of its electrons. When the electron moves or jumps along, it leaves the previous atom missing an electron and hence attractive to another electron to join it. When electrons move from one place to another, round a circuit, they carry electrical energy from place to place. In this way, they carry their electric charge with them.

Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electrical circuit, a circuit which connects a negative to a positive pole.

Element, you just woke up too late to give your answer. We all know you could have answered right out-the-gate had you known the question was posted.You'll have 98 more times to prove your Element-hood. After that, though, Iiiiiiiii Doooon't Knnnnowwwww.....;) :)